Instead of fixed prices, customers at Panera Cares at Government Center will be asked to pay whatever they think the meal was worth.

Collection buckets will be placed in the restaurant. Those who can't pay will be offered the opportunity to volunteer at the cafe.

At the four existing Panera Cares cafes — in Missouri, Oregon, Michigan, and Illinois — about 60 percent of customers pay the suggested amount for their meals, around 20 percent give more, and around 20 percent pitch in less or nothing at all, the Boston Globe reported.

"It's just amazing to us. Many people questioned whether this would work," Panera founder Ron Shaich said. "We said that this was the right thing to do. It's a pay-it-forward kind of thing."

A hearing before the Boston Licensing Board was scheduled for Wednesday morning.